McCain Calls for Aid Cuts to Countries Fueling Immigration Crisis

Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) has called for at least threatening to cut aid from Central American countries that are not working to stop the flow of children illegally immigrating to the United States, Roll Call reports.

More than 50,000 children, predominantly from Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally since October.

“We should tell these countries in Central America that no more aid, no more assistance, no nothing until they stop this from happening,” McCain told KFYI radio in Phoenix.

McCain, who was the GOP architect of the Senate’s immigration plan, also said the United States should not tackle comprehensive immigration reform until the border is secured.

According to Roll Call:

McCain’s comments come as the administration is readying a supplemental spending request to address the issue of the flood of unaccompanied children and also pushing related administrative changes. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters Monday that full details of the request were expected Tuesday.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has already announced a hearing on the request for Thursday afternoon. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson are the headline witnesses.